It's getting to the point where we're nonplussed by Democrats backing the idea, too. Still, it's a novel concept to have the Dems calling for taking money from the public till and letting families use it to go to any school they want.

State Rep. Ronald Brise, D-North Miami, a former teacher, is the latest to pen an op-ed piece on the subject. In a Miami Herald column, Brise comes out in full support of a plan to broadly expand the program:

"Some of my fellow Democrats are concerned that all these options represent a threat to public education, but they actually strengthen it. That's why President Obama has called for doubling the number of private charter schools and why Florida Democrats are lining up to support bipartisan efforts to help give poor children more options."

About the blog

Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.